All You Need for a Rally: A Good iPhone

Despite some critics expressing reservations about the iPhone 17 Pro’s “Cosmic Orange” hue, Apple’s latest offering appears to have struck a chord with consumers and, consequently, investors. The color, while bold, reflects a broader trend of personalization and self-expression in consumer electronics, potentially resonating with younger demographics increasingly influential in the global smartphone market.

According to recent data from Counterpoint Research, the entire iPhone 17 series, encompassing the standard iPhone 17, the higher-performance Pro model, and the slimmer Air variant – available in a spectrum of colors beyond just orange – is outpacing its predecessor in sales across key markets like the U.S. and China. Notably, the iPhone Air reportedly sold out within mere minutes of its launch in China, signifying a potent demand for Apple’s more streamlined and potentially more affordable option. This surge reflects a sophisticated understanding of market segmentation, catering to diverse needs and price sensitivities within the premium smartphone category.

The positive sales figures translated into a nearly 4% surge in Apple’s stock price, pushing it to an all-time high. This development is undoubtedly welcome news for CEO Tim Cook and Apple’s shareholders, especially considering the stock’s relatively subdued performance within the “Magnificent 7” group of tech giants. The recent jump brings Apple’s year-to-date gains to approximately 5%, trailing behind the more substantial gains of Nvidia (36%) and Meta (25%). This relative underperformance earlier in the year highlights the intense competition and evolving landscape of the tech sector, where sustained innovation and successful product launches are crucial for maintaining market leadership.

However, not all members of the “Magnificent 7” enjoyed a smooth start to the week. Amazon Web Services, Amazon’s cloud computing division, experienced an outage that temporarily disrupted functionality for websites and services like Reddit and Snapchat. While the disruption undoubtedly caused inconvenience, Amazon’s stock still managed to increase by around 1.6%, demonstrating the overall strength and diversification of the company’s business model and the inherent resilience of its cloud infrastructure, even in the face of sporadic disruptions.

The broader U.S. market exhibited positive momentum, with major indices closing in the green. Looking ahead, investors will be closely monitoring trade developments between the U.S. and China, as well as upcoming earnings reports from prominent companies such as Netflix, Tesla, and Intel. These reports will provide crucial insights into consumer spending patterns, technological advancements, and the overall health of the global economy, informing investment decisions and shaping market sentiment in the weeks to come.

Trump calls for Ukraine to be carved up with Russia after tense meeting with Zelenskyy

U.S. President Donald Trump held a tense meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, with the potential supply of U.S. long-range cruise missiles, Tomahawks, on the agenda.

Zelenskyy walked away from the meeting not only empty-handed, but apparently upbraided by Trump, who said Ukraine should accept Russia’s terms for ending the war — by handing over the entire eastern territory of Donbas, the epicenter of ongoing fighting in Ukraine.

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